All my life I’ve been surrounded by music, my sister, who’s 11 years my senior, played the flute when she was in high school and my Nana played the clarinet when she was in school. I remember saying when I was old enough, I would play the flute just like my big sister but simply left it at that. I remember being in the fourth grade and the teacher asked if anyone wanted to join my school's band, my hand went straight up. Whenever I originally thought about joining my school's band, my mind was only on playing the flute, but as I was reading the sign up sheet I saw the word saxophone and it was the like an epiphany. I felt so sure. This was it! This would be the instrument I play. So I played, my saxophone, and played, and played the saxophone...for six and a half years! I mean, yeah, throughout those years I tried different types of saxophones from baritone to tenor, but my main saxophone is an alto and I’ve been pretty content with it until now. Don’t get me wrong, I love the saxophone, but as I’ve gone through my freshman year of band at El Cerrito High School I look around at all these students who’ve been playing as long as me or maybe even shorter and they’re switching from instrument to instrument and playing different ones in different band, while I’m here and have been playing the same thing since the 4th …show more content…
grade. Sure, the thought of learning a new instrument has crossed my mind countless of times but I never really thought of what I would play if I did change. This is where my original I-search question was at till I dove into some articles and sources such as 9 Musical Instruments You Can Learn Quickly, an article from Mental Floss. An instrument that was listed had caught my interest, the ukulele. String instruments were a whole different territory for me but I read the brief explanation for it and processed the little information that was given to me “First, choose a type of ukulele: soprano ukes are small, while tenors and baritones are larger. Then try plucking the four nylon strings with your thumb or a felt pick. Use an app to tune your strings to the standard ukulele tuning (G, C, E, A), and study tabs to learn how to play chords. Start with C, which is the easiest chord to learn since it requires you to put just one finger on a string.” (9 Musical Instruments You Can Learn Quickly) That was it. Where was the talk of scales or even what clef you’d be in? Then I realized this article was for beginners, people who have no prior knowledge of playing an instrument beforehand. To them, this article could mean a summer hobby but not something practical, not something you can use in a professional sense. You wouldn't be able to play a ukelele in a concert band and it definitely didn't fit the music I’m both used to and want to continue playing: symphonic music. Another thing that had surprised me when reading this article was the mention of a lot of percussion instruments..like a lot. The Snare Drum, Glockenspiel, and Claves, just to name a few. Remembering the title “9 Musical Instruments You Can Learn Quickly” there was one key part in that, “..You Can Learn Quickly.” These were quick instruments, easy instruments. It made more sense now, percussionists play a lot of instruments so when introduced to something new the instrument would have to be easy for one to learn quickly. Sure you could play these instruments in a symphonic setting but I am not a percussionist, however, and I don’t plan to be one either. This realization I had made me realize I needed to shift my topic question. I knew I wanted to play symphonic music so that narrowed down what I wanted to play. Now I had to think of what group I wanted to be in. Percussion was out of the question, string instruments, though they were cool also didn’t interest me that much. This left two categories brass and woodwind, me being a woodwind myself I feel it’s fitting to stick with what I know. Now that it’s decided I just had to pick which one. As I thought about what instrument I wanted to play I also thought about how what I search should be altered. Since I'm not a beginner and I have prior knowledge of playing an instrument my searches would have to be catered to switching instruments, or learning a new instrument rather than just starting from scratch. With altered search topics, my web engine led me to 5 Tips for Learning Any New Instrument, written by Dylan Welsh and published to Sonicbids Blog, a blog specifically for musicians. Before diving in I had come to a conclusion on the new instrument I want to learn, bassoon, thus recreating my I-Search topic question to How to play the bassoon. In the article, Welsh proceeded to give good tips and strategies that made me happy with my choice to stay in the woodwind family. “Use your existing technical knowledge: If you're playing an instrument that's in the same family or similar to your primary instrument in any way, there will likely be some crossover as far as technique goes. You can use this technical background to help you develop faster on your new instrument. Obviously, if you're a clarinet player who's trying to learn the drums or a bassist who's trying to learn the bagpipes, you're out of luck here. Picking a new instrument to double on that has similarities to your primary instrument is going to lead to the fastest learning and even potential gig opportunities.” (Welsh) A part of me knew this and this was one of the main reasons I wanted to stay in the woodwind family because each woodwind has at least some similarities to the next. Along with finding similarities I can also apply note-wise what I know, like scales, one problem there is that bassoon and saxophone are in different clefs which will force me to learn a new one. Another form of advice that was given was to start slow and be patient when learning the new instrument. “Once we know the feeling of proficiency on one instrument, it's difficult to recall what it was like to be a beginner. Oftentimes, when you pick up a new instrument that you aren't proficient on, it can be frustrating to be unable to execute the ideas you hear in your head that you could easily execute on your primary instrument. In this scenario, the instinctual response is to try and force the ideas out and push to play beyond your limits on the new instrument. This is a very dangerous approach; at best, you'll develop a lot of bad habits, and at worst, you could develop performance injuries that might restrict your ability to develop on your new instrument, and possibly even damage your abilities on your primary instrument. Take it slow. You're a beginner again; relish it! Play your scales at painfully slow tempos and shed on "Mary Had a Little Lamb" until your ears bleed. It'll be worth it.” (Welsh) Because I already play an instrument I knew it’d be difficult to adapt to something new. Though I have the prior knowledge of scales and how to read music, I’m learning something new and I’ll have to be conscious and not try and push myself with things I’m not capable of yet. It certainly will be interesting going back to the basics and playing songs like Let's Go Band and Hot Cross Buns which are both iconic beginning songs. An obvious piece of advice that the article suggests is to take lessons, however, the bassoon is a very rare, expensive instruments so people who give lessons charge more. “This is a bit of a given, but it's still an important reminder. Getting lessons with a good teacher will allow you to learn any instrument faster and more efficiently. Having somebody to guide you and show you how to avoid bad habits early on will save you a lot of backpedaling and relearning down the road. If you have a friend who plays the instrument you’re trying to learn, you can always ask to trade lessons with him or her; your friend will give you a lesson on your new instrument in exchange for you giving him or her a lesson on your primary instrument. There are ways to make it work – and it is so, so worth it.” (Welsh) An alternative to this would be to watch youtube videos for beginning bassoonist. Another option would be to ask other bassoonists from the program to practice with me and give me pointers As I found my sources I knew I would need a source that was in more of a professional sense, so I sought out and found a method book for the instrument I want to play. At the back of method books, there are tips on how to hold your instrument and the fingerings for them. The method book I found called Standard Of Excellence: Comprehensive Band Method by Bruce Pearson. The book talks about embouchure placement and posture which is all very important when learning a new instrument. “Bassoon Checklist Sitting up straight Neck/seat strap properly adjusted Bassoon at the correct angle Left and right thumbs correctly placed Fingers gently curved Wrists straight Elbows away from body Lower jaw pulled back Reed proper distance in mouth Chin down Equal pressure on all sides of the reed Breathing correctly Good tone produced” (Pearson) Though some of these were vague, probably because I haven’t paid that much attention to the instrument since it’s not my primary instrument, but I found this all very helpful. The talk of the placement of the jaw and chin shows me the difference in saxophone and bassoon embouchure. I do know for a fact that, not necessarily the fingerings, but the way you hold the bassoon is similar to saxophone. From a Weebly site on switching from the saxophone to bassoon it as well many listed the similarities between saxophone and bassoon such as the embouchure and air pressure. “This is because the saxophone and bassoon reeds have the same angle of entry. The bassoon and saxophone also require similar air pressure. The saxophone's embouchure uses an "o" shape and so does the bassoon embouchure.” Knowing this is helpful because this is the first source that gives me insight into the similarities between instruments and lets me know what to look my possible switch over. At this point of my research, I merged into my interview.
On a Thursday evening a close friend of mine, Garrett Bush, and I were exchanging questions and answers. Bush had switched from flute to bassoon last year and now plays bassoon as his primary instrument so I thought he’d be a great interviewee. Garrett proceeded to explain the length of time for him to play the instrument along with how often he practiced, “it probably took around 2 weeks to be able to play notes while having them speak clearly enough for the band, but it took months to actually play confidently.” He continued with, “I practiced about 4-5 days a week and I also took
lessons every other week.” After this, I proceeded to ask the difficulties he had and if there were any similarities with his past instrument. “The hardest part was getting used to the double reed, it was a totally new way to make sound, coming from the flute, and my lips weren't used to playing on a double reed so they would get really tired from playing, and it really hurt to tongue for a while, it felt like I was tonguing a knife blade. It was difficult, but with the fingerings switching along with the new clef, it made it easier for my brain to adjust to the new system if that makes sense. There were pretty much no same fingerings, but I was able to find some similarities with the fingers on one individual hand for a few notes, but with these notes, the other hand's fingers never match.”
Not only am I in the band, but I am an essential component to the success and well-being of my section. The clarinets never sounded better than when they were under the direction of Section Leader Sarah, whom they all loved and adored. Okay, that's a boldfaced lie. As a dedicated band member, I demand perfection, not only in my own performance, but also in the performance of others. I refuse to accept mediocrity from any section member. In my opinion, there is no excuse for not knowing music, ignoring instructions, or not knowing right from left. Sadly, this quirk of mine doesn't make me terribly popular among t...
The first time I picked up an instrument was at the age of 7 when I was in third grade. You can call it fate, luck, or my destiny but I was one of the three students that was able to join my elementary orchestra. Of course like any kid, I was afraid if had the ability to do such a thing. I mean it’s not every day you’re recruiting into the arts. I kept asking myself “can I do this? Will I fit in this group?” in other words can I be part of the classical music culture? It wasn’t till my first school concert where I had my first solo of “My Heart Will Go On” the love theme from Titanic that I was able to express the countless hours put into a 15 second solo. After that experience I never questioned if I belonged to the culture. Instead I focused on the next story I would tell on stage with the music score in
Where I learned how to become a leader through the leadership ensemble within the marching band. Where in my senior and fourth year of marching competitively, I became the Drum Major, and earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic Competition. From marching band I progressed into jazz music, where I became the lead alto saxophonist in the top jazz band at my school during my junior and senior year. I was also one of three saxophonists in the top band at my school. I picked up the clarinet, the flute, and the soprano saxophone on my way through high school, and have played all three as well in my performing ensembles. I played in the pit orchestra of the theater production of “All Shook Up”, and was the principal saxophonist at my high school. Too be short, I am very involved in all things music in the past and currently. Band and music have been a place for me to rely on, something that brings me joy when sad. Allows me to express myself through sounds and through instruments. It is truly a talent and a hobby that I hope to continue through college and through life because of the joy it brought me and creative outlet it was throughout my
Music has always been one of things I excelled in. In elementary school it was required to be in music but second in 5th grade you have the option to be in band. I was in band for 6 years before I stopped and I went to 5 honor bands. I played tenor saxophone and was 2nd chair all six years. Jazz band was something we had in middle school and high school. We had 2 jazz bands in middle school. Jazz one was for 8th graders and jazz two was 7th grade. I played in both. My first year I played tenor 1 and 2 and the second year I played baritone saxophone. My 9th grade year I played only tenor one. We didn’t have to audition but the students who plays that instrument normally would have first say in who gets 1st, 2nd and sometimes 3rd part. That
If someone had asked me back in sixth grade what my passion was, marching band would not have ever even crossed my mind. First of all because there is no marching band in sixth grade. Second, when I got into band in sixth grade, I was the worst French horn player in my section. I knew absolutely nothing reading music or playing and although I was still just learning, I always thought I had no chance to get better and that I would quit, but I didn’t. I stayed in the band and my opinions changed my freshman year of high school.
Mel is in a band with his friends. They have had it since they were little kids. As he grew up his talent unleashed and now he wants to get better. There is an all-city jazz band that he can join. If he joins he will have to leave his friends band. The question is which one will he choose talent or loyalty.
Whenever kids join band, they typically have their mind set on the instrument they want to play, and for me, this was percussion. In sixth grade we had the opportunity to join band, and become part of prestigious and successful group at our school. I dreamt of being the lead percussionist and leading the band by keeping the beat and making sure everyone was always together. I had my heart set on percussion ever since I was little, seeing my uncle play drums, banging his head around wildly, hitting drumsticks so hard they broke, and having so much fun with it; I wanted to have that much fun, too.
As I grumbled and griped about having an honors band rehersal only hours before the concert - as i complained about the growing callus on my thumb, about the gay kid with the neckstrap who was first chair clarinet, as i lamented the fact I could NEVER play this music, that i wouldn't get any better in that small practice, so WHY bother-
Music has always been an important part of my life. Upon entering the fifth grade, my parents bought me a flute, at my insistence. After moderate success playing the flute, I saw greener grass on the other side of the musical fence. Singing just had to be easier than making music with a long metal pipe. My perception and reality did not exactly match. Singing has its own subtleties and complexities which are not readily apparent to the casual observer. Abandoning the flute for singing, I began taking voice lessons in the tenth grade. My voice teacher was very experienced and encouraged me to pursue my interest in music beyond high school. After much deliberation, I decided to major in voice during college. This path would be fraught with unforeseen difficulties and exciting challenges.
Music is one of the most fantastical forms of entertainment. Its history stretches all the way from the primitive polyrhythmic drums in Africa to our modern day pop music we listen to on our phones. It has the ability to amaze us, to capture our attention and leave us in awe. It soothes the hearts of billions, and it is so deeply rooted in my life that it has touched my heart as well. Everyday I walk to the beat of the song stuck in my head and hum along to the melody. For me, to listen to music be lifted into the air by the hands of your imagination and float around for a while. You forget about your worries, your troubles and find peace within the sound. Every chapter in my life is attached with a song. Every time I listen to a certain song, thoughts of my past come flooding back
Like many other people, I play piano. I have been playing piano since I was 4 years old. Up until about 2 years ago, I have never wanted to try talking the piano test. In 6th grade, I decided that I wanted to challenge myself and take the test. I studied and prepared for the level 5 ABRSM piano test, and I passed. However, in 5th grade, I decided that I not only wanted to play piano, but I also wanted to play flute. Now, I am the first chair in the Newton Middle School Advanced Band, which, with the directing of Mr. Rick Tyree, has scored a Superior rating 10 years in a row at the SCSBOA
The following Christmas half way through my fifth grade year, I received my first string instrument. Immediately I dropped the clarinet and fell in love with that cheap, 45 dollar, first act guitar. Everywhere I went, it followed. I was 11 at the time and that 45 dollar guitar made me feel like the hotshot of the town. Music made me happy.
Personal Narrative- Marching Band Competition This season was only the second year that I had been in marching band, even though we did do parades in middle school. The year before, I was selected to be drum major of the upcoming marching season. I was excited to meet the challenge of getting back to the state championships. It was also nerve-racking because I felt if we didn't make it to state, it would be my fault.
Of all the instruments laid out on display, only one caught my attention. I was thirteen at the time, and naturally, my eye was drawn to the shiniest of the group. I had never heard the sound of a flute before, aside from the cheap imitation of one on my family’s electronic keyboard. Nevertheless, I picked the pretty, gleaming, easy-to-carry flute on that first day of band class. Three years later, I can’t imagine playing anything else. What started off as blind luck and an attraction to shiny objects is now a part of my life. Playing an instrument is always a worthwhile investment; you develop a skill that many people only wish they had, you have opportunities to meet other musicians, and you may even get to travel in a band setting. But in order to reap the benefits, you first have to learn how to play.
About a month into my senior year we had to compete in a voice contest called solo and ensemble. I hadn’t even looked at the sheet music or listened to the track I had to sing until around December. Once I finally decided to look at it, I felt overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to practice music like that on my own. The title was “I wonder as I wander” and I definitely felt like that described how I was dealing with this situation. I decided to seek help from my choir director and ended up rehearsing twice a week during my lunches. Each rehearsal was a milestone for me, I hit the high note I couldn’t and got down the rhythms and breathing. The contest got closer and the closer it got, the more I wanted to back out.